Franklin Man Accused of Burglary & Trespassing Faces Hearing Tomorrow

| June 6, 2023

courtVENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — A hearing for a Franklin man accused of burglary and criminal trespass is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 47-year-old Scott Elliot Stephenson, of Franklin, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, in Venango County Central Court on the following charges:

– Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Felony 1
– Criminal Trespass – Enter Structure, Felony 3
– Theft by Unlawful Taking – Moveable Property, Misdemeanor 3
– Public Drunkenness and Similar Misconduct, Summary

Stephenson remains lodged in the Venango County Prison with bail denied. The bail action reason was listed as ‘Defendant has active arrest warrants and bench warrants.’

The charges stem from a bizarre series of events that began with him unconscious on the floor of the 15th Street Kwik Fill.

Details of the case:

According to the criminal complaint, around 4:45 p.m. on May 22, Scott Stephenson arrived at a known property on Old Mercer Road, in Sandycreek Township, Venango County.

A 13-year-old victim, who was home alone, saw Stephenson walk across the yard towards the back door of the residence. At that time, the victim ran and locked the door, the complaint states.

The victim watched Stephenson out the window as he walked up on the porch and picked up a baseball bat, the complaint states.

Stephenson, with bat in hand, began to walk around the residence as the juvenile victim inside continued to watch him, and the victim then called 9-1-1. Stephenson eventually walked back to the back door where he attempted to enter the residence by turning the knob and pushing the door, according to the complaint.

Stephenson also picked up a plastic bottle of apple juice that was on the porch and drank it, the complaint indicates.

When Franklin State Police arrived, they located Stephenson near a set of sliding glass doors where he was taken into custody without incident, the complaint notes.

PSP Franklin learned that Stephenson is unknown to the victim and did not have permission to be on the property, nor to enter the residence, the complaint continues.

While on-scene, State Police learned that Stephenson had been unconscious on the floor of the 15th Street Kwik Fill earlier in the afternoon, although nobody called 9-1-1- to report that event, the complaint notes.

According to court records, Stephenson was arraigned at 8:05 p.m. on May 22, in front of Judge Patrick E. Lowrey.


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